As the conflict in Iran has affected medicine supply channels to the UK, NHS England’s chief executive, Sir Jim Mackey, has declared that the country is facing a serious drug shortage.
During a phone-in on LBC Radio, he claimed that the UK imports 75 per cent of its medicine and the UK has already suffered “a couple of supply shocks in the last 12 to 18 months of key supplies.”
He said in every area the NHS has got enough to get through for a few weeks. “Some of that is held centrally, some held locally.”
Mackey pointed out that medicines cannot be stored for long as they tend to perish or go out of use.
He conceded that some medications could run out in a few days or even weeks.
National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said prices of medications spiking because of the war and this could lead to shortages.
He also blamed the price concession of medicines provided by the Department of Health for worsening the current situation.
A government spokesperson claimed they are yet to see war-specific shortages, and they are closely watching the medical supply chain.
The government is carefully monitoring all the possible threats to the medicine supply and are tackling them to prevent any form of disruption in the health and social care sector.
